M31: The Andromeda Galaxy
			
		
		
		
			The most distant object easily visible to the unaided eye is
M31,
the great Andromeda Galaxy.
Even at some two and a half million 
light-years distant, 
this immense spiral galaxy -- spanning over
200,000 light years -- is visible, although as a faint, nebulous cloud in the
constellation
Andromeda.
In contrast, a bright yellow nucleus, dark winding 
dust lanes, and
expansive spiral arms dotted with 
blue star clusters and 
red nebulae, 
are recorded in 
this stunning telescopic image 
which combines data from 
orbiting Hubble with ground-based images from 
Subaru and 
Mayall.
In only about 5 billion years, the Andromeda galaxy may be even 
easier to see -- as it will likely span the 
entire night sky -- just before it 
merges with our 
Milky Way Galaxy.